Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I Know Whom I have Believed Thanksgiving!

2 Timothy 1 8-12

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound4 words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Thanksgiving is about God.

The whole Christian life is one big thank you. The living expression of our gratitude to God for His goodness. But we take him for granted and what we take for granted we never take seriously.

Col 1: 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks4 to the Father, who has qualified you5 to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Col 2:7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Col 4: 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving broadens our perspective on God's sovereign work on our lives. Telephoto lens versus wide angle lens for perspective. .. realestate.com… rooms seem bigger.. dads backyard was positively huge… but really not much more room than you could swing a cat.. and my brother and I did that a few times. Telephoto lives are self-centred..

Luke 1717 Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened

2 Chronicles 20 Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever."

1 Thess 5: 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

Thanksgiving is about God And you and I!!

Not what but Whom I have believed

And when Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, was dying, a friend endeavoured to fortify his faith by reciting some of the most familiar passages and promises. Presently he ventured upon the words:

'I know in whom I have believed, and — '

But the sick man raised his hand.

'No, no,' exclaimed the dying Principal, 'it is not "I know in whom" but "I know whom"; I cannot have even the little word "in" between me and Christ. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day!'

John Oxenham has expressed the same thought with an accent and emphasis well worthy of the theme: Not What, but Whom, I do believe. That, in my darkest hour of need. Hath comfort that no mortal creed To mortal man may give. Not What but Whom. For Christ is more than all the creeds. And His full life of gentle deeds Shall all the creeds outlive. Not What I do believe, but Whom. Who walks beside me in the gloom? Who shares the burden wearisome? Who all the dim way doth illume. And bids me look beyond the tomb The larger life to live? Not what I do believe. But Whom Not What, But Whom

It was a Person, a Living and Divine Person, of whom Faraday was so certain and on whom he rested so securely at the last. I know whom I have believed. '

Pascal had the words engraved upon his seal; Canon Ainger left instructions that they should be inscribed on his tomb at Darley Abbey; b, Michael Faraday wove them into the very warp and woof, the fibre and fabric of his daily life.

'Speculations!' he cried in dismay, 'speculations! I have none! I am resting on certainties! For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day!'

I know Whom I have believed. I know God! Can you say that with me? I know God!!

I know not just about God. I know not just about Jesus But I know God I know Jesus Christ. Experimental religion! It is about God and it is about you and I!!

I know God chose me

The Lord "who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,"

Ephesians 1:4 he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,

I heard the gospel.. I understood the gospel. I trusted Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11: 25"I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.7 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast." I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.

I know God saved me

This is all about the Lord Jesus Christ coming into our world to die for our sins. I have been made to trust in Christ alone.

My brother," said the devout and simple-minded man whose counsel he had sought, "I must ask you one or two questions: Do you know Jesus Christ?" "I know," replied Wesley, after an awkward pause, "I know that he is the Savior of the world." "True," answered the Moravian, "but do you know that He has saved you?" "I hope He has died to save me," Wesley responded. The Moravian was evidently dissatisfied with these vague replies, but he asked one more question. "Do you know yourself!"

"I said that I did," Wesley tells us in his journal, "but I fear they were vain words!" He saw others happy, fearless in the presence of death, rejoicing in a faith that seemed to transfigure their lives. What was it that was theirs and yet not his?" Are they read in philosophy?" he asks. "So was I. In ancient or modern tongues? So was I also. Are they versed in the science of divinity? I, too, have studied it many years. Can they talk fluently upon spiritual things? I could do the same. Are they plenteous in alms? Behold, I give all my goods to feed the poor! I have labored more abundantly than they all. Are they willing to suffer for their brethren? I have thrown up my friends, reputation, ease, country; I have put my life in my hand, wandering into strange lands; I have given my body to be devoured by the deep, parched up with heat, consumed by toil and weariness. But does all this make me acceptable to God! Does all this make me a Christian? By no means! I have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I am alienated from the life of God. I am a child of wrath. I have no hope." It is a great thing, I say, for a man who has been brought within sight of the kingdom to recognize, frankly that he is, nevertheless, still outside it.

"I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation," says Wesley, in his historic record, "and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine!"

Luther's commentary was being read aloud at Aldersgate Street that night. Forty-five years afterwards Mr. Wesley was taken very ill at Bristol and expected to die. Calling Mr. Bradford to his bedside, he observed: "I have been reflecting on my past life. I have been wandering up and down, these many years, endeavoring, in my poor way, to do a little good to my fellow creatures; and now it is probable that there is but a step between me and death; and what have I to trust to for salvation? I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this: 'I, the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me.'"

"I believe," replied Luther, reciting a clause from his familiar credo, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins!"

"Ah," exclaimed the elder monk, "but you must not only believe in the forgiveness of David's sins and Peter's sins, for this even the devils believe. It is God's command that we believe our own sins are forgiven us!" "From that moment," says D'Aubigne, "light sprung up in the heart of the young monk at Erfurt." "I believed," says Luther, "that my sins, even mine, were forgiven me!" "My sins, even mine!" says Luther. "My sins, even mine!" says Wesley.

I know God called me

I know God changed me

How do you know you are converted? I was there at the time.

John 9 24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

I know God defeated death for me

Job 19: 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

I know God shall keep me

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,8 for those who are called according to his purpose. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He is able to keep!' That was the sublime confidence that won the heart of John Newton. It came to him in the form of a dream on his voyage home from Venice. 'It made,' he says, 'a very great impression upon me!' 'He is able to keep'— as a shepherd keeps his sheep. 'He is able to keep'— as a sentry keeps the gate. 'He is able to keep'— as the pilgrims kept the golden vessels on their journey to Jerusalem, both counting and weighing them before they set out from Babylon and again on their arrival at the Holy City. 'He is able to keep'— as a banker keeps the treasure confided to his custody.

'I know whom I have believed,' says the margin of the Revised Version, 'and I am persuaded that He is able to guard my deposit against that day.'

'I know in whom my trust reposes,' says Dr. Weymouth's translation, 'and I am confident that He has it in His power to keep what I have entrusted to Him safe until that day.'

'I know whom I have trusted^ says Dr. Moffatt's version, 'and I am certain that He is able to keep what I have put into His hands till the Great Day.'